DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ruled that an Iowa Transportation Department officer didn’t have legal authority to issue a speeding ticket. Polk County District Court Associate Judge Heather Lauber said in her Thursday ruling dismissing the citation that the Iowa Supreme Court declared nearly 70 years ago that the department officers didn’t have power over most moving violations.

The Des Moines Register reports that if Lauber’s ruling survives a possible appeal, legal challenges could follow on thousands of tickets issued by Transportation Department officers. Sixteen-year-old Peyton Atzen and his parents fought the ticket, fearing he could lose his license. The officer ticketed Atzen on May 27 after he was clocked going 84 mph in a 55 mph zone. Atzen says he was speeding but doesn’t think he was going that fast.